Todd, I've got a T-2 one piece, T-1 two piece, and a 200cm T-1 for my daughter. Used them since I saw them at the Charleston Sea kayak symposium , since May. There isn't much spoon to them so I've surprised myself by paddling for a stroke or two with the back of the blade. The Lightnings have s-glass in the blades and have a very low swing weight. I have no idea on relative strengths of the lighter glass shafts that Lightning and Werner are using nowadays compared to Whetstones but if you are a big strong guy that uses things roughly I'd be careful with any very light weight stuff. Or lending to friends learning how to do paddle float rescues.